Quote:
Originally Posted by SuburbanNation
Whats up with the "Louis" corridor along I-55? I always thought the St. Louis accent was like a Michigan accent with a few "appalachianized" words like "warshington."
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Wrong! Come on, SuburbanNation! You don't know what the St. Louis accent is??? It's alive and well in the working-class sections of South City and all over the inner-ring suburbs. The uniqueness of the St. Louis accent is well-documented.
The University of Pennsylvania conducted a comprehensive study of North American dialects, and St. Louis even has its own chapter:
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/phono_atlas/NationalMap/NationalMap.html#Heading11
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_English_regional_phonology#St._Louis_and_vicinity
I've come to realize that many people just aren't attuned to recognizing local dialects, but that does not mean that they don't exist. St. Louis, being older than the United States itself, retains a very distinct local dialect that contrasts greatly with the surrounding hinterlands (although it has become homogenized and diluted among younger speakers as we have become more mobile and technologically connected).
I think Gus Torregrossa has the best St. Louis accent. I highly recommend watching the documentary, "Gus" and take a listen.
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